Towing connector means



. W d XR 3,545,041 v5R WW6 uec. 5, mm TRIPLETT TOWING CONNECTOR MEANS 2 ShOQtS-Shuci. 1,

Filed July 26, 1968 M W l y I [III llll (I I INVENTOR. LEE TRIPLETT HIS ATTORNEY 1970 L.. TRI PLETT TOWING CONNECTOR MEANS Filed July 26, 1968 2 Sheets-Jinan;

khh\\\\\\ INVENTOR. LEE TRIPLETT 7 BY Hl ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 8, 1970 by reference to the following description, taken in con- 3,545,047 nection with the accompanying drawings in which:

TUWING CONNECTOR MEANS Lee Triplett, 2878 South 8600 West, Salt Lake City, Utah 84109 FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective of a towing connector means, in one form of the invention, being secured to the transom of a boat.

Filed July 26, 1968, Ser. No. 747,885 FIG 2 REL CL A441) 17/00; B6310 21/00 is an enlarged, longitudinal, transverse sectlon Us. CL 24 2M Claims of the structure of FIG. 1, illustrating the various parts in detail.

FIG. 3 is an elevation of a portion of the adapter used 10 in the invention wherein the same is conditioned to re- ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE an elongate conne t ob ect such,as 21 WW...

ceive objects hereinafter described through a wall aperture.

FIG. 4 is an elevation of the structure FIG. 3 wherein the wall aperture of the adapter portion is closed.

FIG. 5 illustrates the principal portion (i.e. upper portion) of the structure of FIG. 2, this wherein the device easily mounted to the towing object and includes a novel 4 handle and friction-lock construction by which the elongate connector or its adapter may be easily secured and released from the securement with the friction-loch has been actuated such as to produce a friction-lock between the mounting device of the boat transom and the adapter to which the tow rope is connected.

mechanism of the device.

The present invention relates to connector means for securing an elongate connector such as a tow rope to a towing vehicle such as a boat and, more particularly, to a new and improved object of the device of the type described wherein the device is easily secured to the moving vehicle and provides a novel friction-lock and handle construction whereby the elongate connector to be releasably attached thereto is easily retained and released from retention by the friction-lock of the device.

In the past a number of different types of devices has been used to secure a ski rope, for example, to the tram-,-

som of a boat. These generally involve fixed construe: tions, however, and no completely satisfactory means have been devised to the inventors knowledge wherein, as in the present invention, the advantages of concentricity relating to mounting are preserved, versatile friction-lock functions are obtained, and where, further, the device in a preferred form of the invention may be re leasably or permanently secured to the rear of the transom vehicle without employing additional attachments.

Accordingly, a principal obiect of the present invention is to provide a new and imggvegl,towingconnector aadsaiauaa A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the type described wherein a tow ro e or glt he r e gpgate, ededaad.

connector means may be suitably ally aynwsd afiyssanm awfimfiu imtbademh An additional object is to provide a convenient adapter means which can be incorporated between the juncture of the elongate connector and the device aflixed to the towing vehicle, such adapter to provide for easy and versatile placement and withdrawal of the connecting means of the tow rope to the device.

ante Dove e l'sn'zi'c, frar-hqn veh cles ditional object is to provide in a device as gen- FIG. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary section view of structure similar to FIG. 2, representing an alternative form thereof wherein the device can be automatically locked into a port in the boat transom.

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6, but illustrates further structure of the device and the fact that the handle can be unkeyed relative to the mount of the device affixed to the boat transom.

FIG. 8 is an elevation in reduced scale and is taken along the line 8-8 in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged detail of a portion of the operable handle as shown in FIG. 7.

is hown to include transom 11 by a plurality of screws or bolts 15. Mount 14, see FIG. 2, includes a flange 16, a central hollow cylinder or body 17 and a base 18, all comprising portions of mount 14 and preferably being integrally formed together. Flange 16 is provided with a plurality of countersunk apertures 19 for accommodating screws 15 in respective one for mounting purposes. A bolt 20 is threaded through base 18 at 21 and is retained in place by nut 22. If desired, the bolt 20 may be welded or otherwise secured to the base 17, as desired. Disposed about the shank 23 of bolt 20 is an axially compressible, radially expandable, preferably elastomeric, compression sleeve 24. The forward end of the same is proximate to and abuts head 25 of bolt 20.

Releasably disposed over the compression sleeve 24 is a friction-lock receptacle 26 having base 27, an enlarged forward cylinder portion 28, a locking cylinder portion 29 which is contiguous with and of smaller diameter with respect to the former, and a flared end 30. Bolt or screw 31 secures the base 27 to a cap 32 that is crimped over the upper end of flexible elongate member 33. The latter will preferably be formed of rubber, neoprene or other elastomeric material. However, other types of flexible connectors might be used, if desired.

Locking nut device 34 includes an actuating handle 35 and, integral therewith, a nut sleeve 36 and nut base 37. It will be understood that the entire unit, or at least the actuating handle 35, can be molded as a single part. In the embodiment illustrated, nut sleeve 36 includes a peripheral retainer protuberance 38 which protrudes into the configuration of the actuating handle so as to fixedly and keyingly retain the same relative to the remainder of the configuration of locking nut device 34.

The operation of the device as thus far described is as follows. Flexible elongate member 33, having friction-lock receptacle 26 secured thereto as previously described, is

3 itself secured to mount 14 in the manner of the frictionlock receptacle 26 being thrust over and in close proximity with elastomeric compression sleeve 24. At this juncture, the user will rotate (counterclockwise) the actuating handle 35. This, in turn, accomplishes a rotation of the entire locking device 34, including nut base 37. Actuating handle is thus rotated such that the nut base 37, in threadedly engaging bolt 20, will ride down the bolt, relative to FIG. 2, so as to compress elastomeric sleeve 24. This in turn, produces an outward expansion of elastomeric compression sleeve 24 such that the latter frictionally retains, very tightly, the friction-lock receptacle 26 relative to sleeve 24 and the mount 14 to which it is secured as by bolt 20, as indicated. It is further to be noted that the enlarged forward portion 28 of the friction-lock receptacle provides for a flowed expansion of the elastomeric compression sleeve in this area so as to provide in an abutment or shoulder against which the flared juncture 41 ot' friction-lock receptacle 26 cannot pass. This further aids in fixed but releasable securement of the friction-lock receptacle 26 relative to elastomeric compression sleeve 24.

A loosening and separation of the structure, i.e. frictionlock receptacle 26 from the mount 14 at sleeve 24, may be accomplished simply by the user rotating the actuating handle 35 in the opposite direction so as to thread the nut base 37 toward base 17. In such event, the expansion of elastomeric sleeve 24 through its prior compression is reduced so that there may follow an easy disengagement of friction-lock receptacle 26 from elastomeric compression sleeve 24.

It is, of course, true that the elongate connector 55 towing the remote object may be secured directly to friction-lock receptacle 26. A more satisfactory approach, however, is in the provision of flexible elongate member 33, previously described, and which may include a lower cap 42 crimped at 43 to the flexible elongate member 33. Where the cap is threaded then a stud 44 may be threaded therein, a nut or bushing 45 provided, and the lower portion 46 of stud 44 may be threaded into threaded base 4 of hollow connector body 48. The latter is in the form of a hollow cylinder having opposite ends and provided with an enlarged wall aperture 49. A nylon or other type of retainer plug 50 will be designed so as to be easily insertable in wall aperture 49, and will be suitably contoured as indicated in FIG. 2. Preferably, this contour takes the form of downwardly extending boss 51 having a slightly enlarged cross-section at 52 and an under cut area at 53 providing a shoulder 54 of approximately two thousandths of an inch.

In operation, the elongate connector 55 is inserted through aperture 56 of plug 50, and a knot 5'7 is provided. The plug 50 is then introduced into wall aperture 49 and pressed downwardly such that the enlarged portion 52 proceeds past end portion 58 of hollow connector body 48. In such event, the end 58 will engage the portion 53 of reduced cross-section and the plug will retain its seating within the lower portion of hollow connector body 48.

FIG. 3 illustrates the wall aperture as being uncovered by the suitable rotational displacement of cover 59.

FIG. 4 illustrates the cover as having been rotationally displaced so that the wall aperture 49 may be completely covered for use of the device. In a preferred embodiment of the invention a circumferential recess 60 is provided about the hollow connector body 48 and a bead 61 provided to form an inner peripheral protuberance for cover 59. Thus, there can be a keyed relative rotational relationship between the cover 59 and hollow connector body 48.

FIG. 5 illustrates the structure of FIG. 2 wherein actuating handle 35 has been rotationally displaced such as to produce a compression lock of sleeve 24 of frictionlock receptacle 26. To restore the device to its original position so as to be able to remove flexible elongate member 33 from association with mount 14, all that is necessary is to reverse the rotational displacement of actuating handle 35, thereby threading nut base 37 toward nut 22 so that compression upon sleeve 24 is reduced and radially expansion thereof is gradually eliminated. Thercupon the friction-lock receptacle 26 may, in turn, be very easily and conveniently slipped out of engagement with elastomeric sleeve 24.

In FIG. 6 is illustrated slight modification of the invention wherein the mount 14 may be secured to the boat transom 11 by means other than the employment of screws or other equivalent means 15.

In FIG. 6 transom 63 is provided with an aperture 64 communicating with an open intcrior region 65, in one form of the invention. wherein the locking sleeve 66 may expand. Of course, it is conceivable that locking sleeve 66 may simply be designed to frictionally hold within the apertures 64 of transom 63. In any event, it is seen relative to FIG. 6 that mount 67, corresponding to mount 14 in FIG. I, is this time provided with a flange 68 having an annular recess 69 on its interior surface. Disposed within this recess, yet protruding inwardly therefrom relative to surface 70, is a washer or other bearing means 71. Mount 67 is externally threaded at 72 and includes a configured nut 73 threadedly secured thereon. Accordingly, and in accordance with the teachings of the invention, flange 68 can have wrench flats or recesses may be appropriately rotated against the bearing surface of bearing 71 so as to produce an increased engagement or coming together of threaded surface 72 of mount 67 relative to nut 73. This, in turn. produces, by reaction flange F, a compression of locking sleeve 66, particularly, at area 74 thereof. This, in turn, produces an abutment by which the mount 67 is precluded from inadvertently becoming disassociated from transom 63. Wrench flats 75 may be provided, if desired, for mount 67 so as to facilitate rotation of the flange and the entire mount 67.

The structure of FIG. 7 is substantially identical to that shown in FIG. 6, but with some important exceptions which now will be pointed out. Manual actuating handle 76 includes lug 77 which is dimensioned to engage lug hole 97 found in flange 79. Nut sleeve 79 corresponds to nut sleeve 36, FIG. 2, and is integrally formed with nut base 81, correspinding nut base 37 of FIG. 2, and sleeve 79'. Sleeve 83 is integrally formed with actuating handle 76 and engages a compression, box-shaped spring 87; this spring may be retained in place by a suitable retainer (rivet, screw, etc.), 87 which is secured to flange 92 of mounting ring 92. Mounting cup 89 includes a medial outward protuberance 90 which serves as a reaction backing for elastomeric sleeve 91. Annular mounting ring 92 includes a medial hollow boss 93 which is threaded at 94 between to engage the threads 95 disposed on the interior surface of cup cylinder 96. Ring 92 includes one or more apertures or holes 97 which selectively receive locking pins or protuberances 98, protruding from the underside 99 of actuating handle 76. Spring 80 is secured by pivot 87 to flange 92 and urges handles 76 outwardly.

In normal condition the actuating handle 76 of FIG. 7 at key slots 77 will engage flanged lug keys 78 so that the nut base 81 may be operated in the manner described in connection with nut base 37 (FIGS. 1 and 2). However, it is important to note that the same actuating handle 76 can be used to mount initially the device within aperture 100 of transom 101. This is accomplished by the user depressing forwardly toward the transom the actuating handle 76 (see FIG. 9) against compression spring 80 so that locking pin 98 engages hole 97 of ilange 92. In such event, the handle becomes operative to r0- tate the flange 92 against the outer surface 102 of resilient, compression sleeve 91, thereby tending to compress the same by the advancement of portion 90 theretoward and, if desired, to expand the same beyond the innor surface 103 of the transom. This depends, of course, upon the axial placement of portion 90.

Upon the suitable locking in place of the device through rotation of flange 92, the pressure against actuating handle 76 is released, thereby permitting the handle to spring outwardly under the action of compression leaf spring 80 so that the handle is again released from the engagement of pin 78 with hole 97. Thereupon, the device Is in condition for normal usage, as described in connection with FIG. 2, in releasing and locking in place as described, the friction-lock receptacle 26, to be selectively inserted over elastomeric sleeve 24 in FIG. 7.

Thus, in FIG. 7 it is seen that a single handle can be used "both to lock the device within the boat transom and also, selectively, to release and retain the tow structure to that portion of the device mounted to the boat transom.

Of importance to note is the configuration of the actuating handle 35 and 76 in the various figures. The same,

as has heretofore been explained, may be either of laminated construction as illustrated, or of unitary construction as produced through a molding process. In any event, it is preferable that the grooves and indentations 105 and 106 be supplied in order to facilitate gripping of the device. Most important, it is noted that the actuating handle is tapered inwardly toward the transom of the boat, in the case of FIG. 1, toward mount 14. This is deemed to be very important to insure adequate gripping of the device as needed, and further to insure that the users bands, which may be wet, do not inadvertently slip off the device. In the case of an actuating handle tapered in the opposite direction, or simply cylindrical, there might be some problem relative to the gripping of the device for proper actuation thereof.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention in its broader aspects, and, therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

Iclaim:

1. A mount device for securing thereto a tubular obis m may; a ssats a1 means, 'said '5 'd'ei/ice' including, in combi mounting means having a central, hollow body, a base contiguous with said body and disposed at a rearward portion thereof, and a flange circumscribing said body and contiguous therewith at aforward portion thereof, means for mounting said mounting means to an external object, a threaded member fixed to said mounting means base and extending forwardly therefrom Within said hollow body, an axially compressible, radially expandable, resilent, friction sleeve axially disosed upon said threaded member, said threaded member being provided with reaction means, nut means having a base threaded upon said threaded member and also a sleeve integral with said base and circumscribing and spaced from said friction sleeve, and hollow handle means keyed to said nut means and constructed to rotate said nut means to thereby advance said base thereof against said friction sleeve, compressing the same toward said reaction means whereby to expand said sleeve into a friction-lock relationship with respect to said tubular object when releasably fitted thereover.

2. Structure according to claim 1 wherein said threaded member comprises a bolt, said reaction means comprises a head integral with said bolt as spaced from and forwardly with respect to said mounting means base, said nut means base being disposed between said friction sleeve and said mounting means base.

3. Structure according to claim 1 wherein said handle comprises a hollow knob which is peripherally tapered inwardly in a direction toward said mounting means base.

4. Structure according to claim 1 wherein said mounting means comprises a unitary mount member, and wherein said mounting means base, hollow body, and flange are integral with each other.

5. Structure according to claim 1 wherein said mounting means comprises a first member having a hollow central boss provided with a threaded portion and including said flange, and a second member including said mounting means base and also a tubular portion threadedly engaging said hollow central boss, said tubular base and hollow central boss comprising said central hollow body, an annular, axially compressible, radially expandable friction sleeve encompassing at least one of said first and second members, said mounting means including reaction means for compressing and thereby radially cxpanding said mounting means friction sleeve upon the mutual threaded advancement toward each other of said first and second members.

6. Structure according to claim 5 wherein said second member includes a peripheral flange comprising said mounting means reaction means for co-acting with said flange in selectively compressing said mounting means friction sleeve.

7. Structure according to claim 5 wherein said handle is selectively keyed to said nut means, said handle and flange including intercooperable detent means, and spring means for spacing said detent means, in the absence of hand pressure being axially applied to said handle to en- .gage said detent means for selectively compressing said mounting means friction sleeve.

8. Structure according to claim 6 wherein said handle is selectively keyed to said nut means, said handle and flange including intercooperable detent means, and spring means for spacing said detent means, in the absence of hand pressure being axially applied to said handle to engage said detent means for selectively compressing said mounting means friction sleeve.

9. Structure according to claim 7 wherein said handle includes pin means protruding toward said flange, said flange being provided with aperture means cooperable with said pin means, said aperture and pin means comprising detent means.

10. In combination, a sleeve body, a resilient, friction-lock member operatively disposed within, secured to, yet peripherally spaced from said body, an elongate connector having a tubular end frictionally slipped over said resilient, friction-lock member and constructed therefor, and hollow handle means operatively disposed with respect to said sleeve body and said resilient, frictionlock member and encompassing said elongate connector, and having means for selectively enlarging the cross-sectional dimension of said resilient, friction-lock member, to selectively engage in friction-lock relationship said tubular end of said elongate connector, said hollow handle means having a central, longitudinally extending sleeve portion containing said friction-lock member and receiving said tubular end of said elongate connector.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,227,306 12/1940 Guy 24862X 2,782,391 2/1957 Kirk 24-230UX 2,873,454 2/1959 Phillips 28720.3X 2,904,379 9/1959 Nelson 248l88UX 3,303,813 2/1967 Collins 114235W,WX 3,437,370 4/1969 Bochman 24230 BERNARD A. GELAK, Primary Examiner US. (:1. X.R. 

